At any given moment one can see a wide variety of wildlife which might include bears, wolves, coyotes, elk, bison and other species. Over a period of time lots of people stop at the pullouts to watch for wildlife and view the scenery. Frequently someone will wander over and ask "what you are seeing through the scope?" More often than not scope owners are happy to oblige and share the view.
On this particular day a motor home rolled into the pullout with several youngsters on board. The occupants got out to stretch their legs and take a look around. About this time I was watching a grizzly bear in an opening about a mile away. One of the kids asked what I was looking at, and when I said "a grizzly bear", he got really excited. I adjusted the tripod to the appropriate height for him and asked if he would like to take a look. All four of the kids lined up and took their turn watching the bear and exclaiming how cool it was to see him.
As they were getting back on board the motor home the mother came over and thanked me for allowing her family to see the bear. She said that their vacation was over and they were on their way out of the park. Their only regret was that they had not been able to see a grizzly bear during their visit, and now that wish had been fulfilled.
As they pulled away I could hear the excited chatter about the bear, and I knew that I had played a small part in providing them with a positive memory of their visit to the park, and their first look at a grizzly bear.
After they left I was reflecting on the experience and I could not help but hope that I might have planted the seed for an interest in wildlife, and nature, which would last a lifetime in one of those children. If I did, and if one of them sought a path in life that preserved wilderness in some way, I felt I might have contributed to something worthwhile indeed.
So with that hope in mind I created this blog. I would like to think that someone might be inspired to study, appreciate, and preserve the remaining wilderness on our planet. Who knows, it might even be you.
